The 30 million potassium iodide pills, the purchase of which cost 6 million euros, will no longer be distributed to the population, announces an official from the Ministry of Health. Their distribution would be made by the Public Health Directorates, only in case of a nuclear accident. The decision is at least questionable, given that iodine tablets are only effective if taken within 12 hours of a possible nuclear accident, and this was the main reason why the institution led by Alexandru Rafila and the minister himself had announced, initially, that the pills will be distributed preventively.
Alexandru RafilaPhoto: AGERPRES
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“They will not be distributed to people who could be affected only in the context in which they will be needed, something that no one wants, that is, to have a nuclear accident or such a situation that would require iodine administration to all citizens. They will be distributed when we have, God forbid, a nuclear-type event. “ said Tiberius Bradatan, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, at Europa Fm.
HotNews.ro tried, on Monday, to contact both the Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, and Tiberius Brădățan, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, who announced to Europa Fm that the iodine pills will no longer be distributed, but none of them could not be contacted. We also tried to get additional clarifications from the Ministry of Health, but we did not receive any response until the publication of this article.
Rafila wanted to distribute the pills through family doctors, but they refused. In other countries, the pills are distributed through pharmacies or by mail
The story of iodine pills begins in March. With the start of the war in Ukraine, Romanians turned their backs on pharmacies, which they emptied of iodine pills – including dietary supplements containing a tiny amount of iodine.
In the first phase, while the Romanians emptied the iodine pharmacies, and some doctors warned in the pressthat administered after the ear, iodine risks doing more harm than good, the Ministry of Health did not react.
Eventually, as iodine was a topic on everyone’s lips, Minister Rafila announced that the Ministry of Health would distribute iodine himself. He stressed that no one should take the pills preventively, but that they will be distributed to the population in any event.
The following month, the Minister of Health spoke almost exclusively about iodine, in all his public appearances – press conferences or appearances on TV shows.
During this time, Antibiotice Iași urgently produced 30 million iodine pills.
The 30 million potassium iodide pills cost “around 30 million lei”, the equivalent of about 6 million euros, and the purchase was made by the National Authority of State Reserves, not by the Ministry of Health, Alexandru Rafila explained on April 5at the request of journalists, in a press conference at the ministry – the last held by the Minister of Health at the headquarters of the institution, so far.
Distribution of iodine, initially postponed under the pretext of running an information campaign as non-existent
Alexandru Rafila wanted the pills to be distributed by family doctors, but they objected, arguing that the congestion and bureaucracy would risk blocking the activity of their offices, in a complicated period anyway – wave of viruses and flu, COVID -19, COVID-19 testing, vaccination, consultations, prescriptions, referrals, etc.
In other countries, potassium iodide tablets are distributed on a regular basis, but solutions have also been found, such as distribution through pharmacies or mailing directly to citizens.
The distribution of potassium iodide pills should have started, according to the statements of Minister Alexandru Rafila, in the week of April 5-11.
However, on the background of the opposition of family doctors, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday, April 4, that it was postponing the distribution in order to make an “information campaign” first.
The “information campaign” meant some slides published on the website of the Ministry of Health and of National Institute of Public Health.
How the Ministry of Health twisted: distributes iodine pills only in the event of a nuclear accident
The issue of iodine distribution was then silenced for weeks. Until last weekend, when Tiberius Bradatan, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, told Europa Fm that iodine pills will no longer be distributed to the population. They would be distributed by the Public Health Directorates only in the event of a nuclear accident.
“They will not be distributed to people who could be affected only in the context in which it will be needed, something that no one wants, that is, to have a nuclear accident or such a situation that would require iodine administration to all citizens. They will be distributed when we have, God forbid, a nuclear-type event “, said Tiberius Bradatan, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, at Europa Fm.
The problem is that potassium iodide pills are only effective if they are taken no later than 12 hours after a possible nuclear accident, and this was the main reason why the institution led by Alexandru Rafila and the minister himself had initially announced that the pills will be distributed preventively.
The Ministry of Health itself stated in its information campaign that “in order to achieve effective blockade of radioactive absorption, potassium iodide should be administered as soon as possible after exposure to radiation. If the administration takes place 4-6 hours after exposure, the absorption is blocked only in proportion of about 50% ”.
Secretary of State Tiberius Bradatan was asked on Europa Fm if, in case of emergency, the DSPs will be able to distribute the population pills in no more than 6 hours: “In a short time, in a short time, yes.”
Iodine is no longer effective 12 hours after radiation exposure
In order to achieve effective blockade of radioactive absorption, potassium iodide should be administered as soon as possible after exposure to radiation. It should have been administered, in the event of a nuclear accident, within 6 hours of the announcement of the authorities, according to the Ministry of Health, in the iodine information campaign.
If potassium iodide is given later than 12 hours after exposure, its absorption is no longer significant because the radioactive iodine has already been absorbed by the thyroid gland.
The duration of treatment is limited to a single dose.
The potential benefit of iodine prophylaxis is greater the younger the age.
The risk of thyroid cancer per unit dose of radioactive iodine is higher in the fetus, newborn and infant than in the adult. The target population for iodine administration is mainly people under 40 years of age.
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